The coronavirus pandemic has changed our way of life. And if you were infected, there may be certain signs and symptoms to watch out for. According to health experts, some COVID-19 patients develop long-term organ damage and have a prolonged stay in the hospital before making a complete recovery. Most patients also report changes in breathing patterns and blood clotting mechanisms after recovering from the infection.
After COVID-19, there is a residual damage to lung alveoli and to endothelial cells that line the blood vessels, leading to persistent respiratory symptoms and excessive blood clotting across the body. Some of them succumb to eventual pneumonia and cerebrovascular disease. This so-called post-COVID syndrome happens after the initial infection of COVID-19 is over and the patient is deemed to have recovered. Patients may have a recurrence of symptoms such as lethargy, body aches, and itchy throats. This may have an effect on their mental state leading to anxiety and depression. It is therefore of essence to monitor patients after infection or discharge from the hospital.
Co-morbidities or other illnesses, exposures, or demographic characteristics such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and renal disorders also contribute to immune compromise and added risk for complications. Gender differences have not been observed, but some studies indicate more distressing signs and symptoms among males compared to females.
It is important for COVID survivors to monitor oxygen saturation, which must not dip below 95% using a pulse oximeter. Respiratory symptoms must also be monitored, taking note of the presence of cough or difficulty of breathing.
Temperature must also be monitored, which must not exceed 37.8 degrees centigrade. There must also be no signs of easy fatigability, sleepiness, and change in sensorium. Patients with Diabetes Mellitus should regularly monitor their blood sugar levels.
There is a need to have a regular check-up with a trusted doctor after one week of being deemed recovered, and every 3 months thereafter. Blood investigations may be warranted in order to screen for signs of inflammation. Some would recommend chest imaging studies after 3 months to ensure pulmonary recovery.
The most dreaded complication would be the emergence of a cytokine storm, where immune cells attack vital organs such as the lungs and the heart. Another complication is a blood clot that can manifest as a heart attack or stroke. Therefore, blood pressure readings that fluctuate or go down must be reported at once.
Vaccination must be made available to post-COVID patients to help minimize infection and viral transmission. So far, all vaccines available in the market have shown an increase in antibodies after administration of the vaccines. There is also an increasing trend towards immediate administration of the vaccine after COVID symptoms have been resolved. This means that you no longer need to wait for a long time before you can avail of the vaccine’s preventive benefits.
However, the most important message after being infected is that there is hope. We have made great strides in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We must trust that in these situations, science will prevail, and the human race will move on and learn from this crisis.